Circular loom.



G. O. BERG.

CIRCULAR LOOM.

APlLIOATION FILED DBO. 27, 1909.

1,000,576. Ptented Aug. 15, 1911.

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WLUMIIA WM? 50.. WMING'TON. D- C- 0. O. BERG.

CIRCULAR LOOM. APPLICATION FILED 11110.27, 1909.

1,000,576. Patented Aug. 15, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 20., WASHlNGTON, D. c

G. 0. BERG.

CIRCULAR LOOM. APPLICATION FILED D150. 27, 1909.

Patented Aug. 15, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH CO., WASHINGTON. n, 1:.

0. 0. BERG.

CIRCULAR LOOM.

APPLIOATION FILED D110. 27, 1909.

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Patented Aug. 15, 1911.

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CARL 0. BERG, OF EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 JAMES S. WILSON, OFCHELSEA, MASSACHUSETTS.

CIRCULAR LOOM.

IIarris, No. 895,512, granted August 11,

The present invention, however, embodies shuttle mechanism of lmprovedconstruction by which it is sought to improve the ease of operation indriving the shuttle and to reduce the size of the shuttle whereby it maypass through the shed of the warp without displacing the warp threads toso great an extent as that required by the shuttle of the aforesaidpatent.

The first of these objects .is attained by providing the shuttle withrelatively long segmental shoes which slide in grooves of an annularshuttle race instead of rolls with which the shuttle in the formerpatent is provided. By reason of providing the segmental shoes, theshuttle has a relatively great surface bearing upon the shuttle race andit is therefore adapted to slide with less vibration and with lessfriction than is the case when the shuttle is provided with rolls.

The second object is attained by arranging the shuttle bobbin in theplane of the shuttle race instead of mounting the bobbin at one side ofthe plane of the shuttle race. By reason of mounting the bobbin in thismanner, the depth of the shuttle may be materially reduced and thedisplacement of the warp threads of the shed is correspondingly reduced.The resistance to the shuttle is therefore reduced in proportion to thereduction of displacement of the warp threads. As a natural consequenceof arranging the shuttle bobbin in the plane of the shuttle race, thediameter of the bobbin may be increased, thereby providing for a greaterquantity of shuttle thread without increasing the displacement of thewarp Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 27, 1909.

Patented Aug. 15, 1911.

Serial No. 535,001.

threads. It has been found by actual practice that the amount of shuttlethread which may be carried by a shuttle constructed in accordance withthe present invention may be increased three-fold and that the necessarydisplacement of the warp threads is not increased.

In addition to the features above mentioned, the present inventionembodies electrical controlling means whereby the operation of themachine is stopped when a shuttle thread breaks. In connection with thismechanism, the shuttle comprises an automatic device of improvedcharacter, said device being engaged by the shuttle thread and adaptedto be moved by a spring when the shuttle thread breaks to thereby closethe electrical circuit for disconnecting power transmitting mechanism.This automatic thread device which is hereinafter termed a detector isconstructed in such manner as to provide ample surface for makingelectrical contact with another part of the machine through which thecircuit is closed.

Of the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one form in which theinvention may be embodied,-Figure 1 represents a side elevation of 'aloom for weaving tubular fabric. Fig. 2 represents a front elevation ofa portion of the machine including the shuttles and their race togetherwith driving mechanism for the shuttles and the warp threads radiatingfrom the point of weaving. Fig. 3 represents a top edge view of theshuttle race and one of the shuttles. Fig. 4 represents a view similarto Fig. 3 of various members, including the adjacent ends of twoshuttles and a driving member in one of the shuttles. Fig. 5 representsa transverse section on line 5, 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 repre sents a rearelevation of feeding means by which the woven fabric is drawn from themachine. Fig. 7 represents the various members included in theelectrical circuit by which the power transmitting mechanism iscontrolled. Fig. 8 represents a top plan view of a part of the mechanismshown by Fig. 7. Fig. 9 represents an end elevation of a shuttle. Fig.10 represents a section of a spring detector on a relatively largescale.

The same reference letters indicate the same parts wherever they occur.

Referring first to Fig. 1, a base is indicated at 10 and supports aframe 11 in which the various parts and mechanisms hereinafter describedare mounted. A central sleeve 12 (see Fig. 5) is affixed in the frame 11and extends from front to rear. A ring or form 13 is affixed at theforward end of the sleeve 12 and is formed with an aperture 14 intowhich the warp threads 15 are introduced. The fabric is woven in tubularform as hereinafter described, against the inner face of the ring 13which therefore determines the diameter of the work. In practice, aplurality of rings 13 having apertures of various sizes are providedwith the machine and any one of the rings may be attached in theposition shown by Fig. 5, to adapt the machine to the particular size ofwork required.

As the weaving operation progresses the work is drawn through the sleeve12 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5 by suitable A feedingmechanism arranged at the rear of the machine as shown by Fig. 1 andhereinafter described. The frame 11 is provided with a plurality ofstationary arms 16 which project forwardly and which support a ring 17in which are mounted a plurality of spindles 18 which support the warpbobbins 19. The spindles 18 are arranged in a circle and their threads15 are extended radially toward the ring 13 as hereinbefore explained.Each bobbin 19 is provided with a tension plate 20 and the plates areaflixed upon arms 21 which are pivotally mounted upon spindles 22.Helical springs 23 are coiled about the spindles and engaged with thearms 21 in such manner as to exert their tension to hold the plates 20 aainst the bobbins.

' l/Vithin the ring 1? and approximately in the same vertical plane isanother ringindicated at 24 in Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive. The ring 24 isformed with an external groove 25 and an internal groove 26, saidgrooves constituting a shuttle race. The ring is stationary and issupported by a plurality of spokes 27 which extend radially from a hub28. The hub is mounted upon a sleeve 12 as shown by Fig. 5 and may beconnected with the sleeve by screw threads 29. In the form shown by thedrawings, the ring 24, the hub 28 and the spokes 27 are formed as asingle casting and in addition to these members, there is an inner ring30 which is hereinafter explained. The ring 24 is formed with radialslots 24 through which the warp threads 15 pass and by which the threadsare guided.

In the present embodiment of the invention, there are four shuttlesindicated at 31. Each shuttle is of the outline shown best by Fig. 3 andcomprises the pointed frame 32 which is arranged outside the shuttlerace but in the vertical plane thereof. The frame 32 is formed with ears32 which are affixed to a segmental shoe 25 arranged in the groove 25 ofthe shuttle race. The shoe 25 is connected to a shoe 26 which islikewise segmental and which is arranged in the groove 26 of the shuttlerace. The two shoes 25 and 26 are connected by a radial arm 33' of theshuttle and by straps 34. The radial portion 33 and the straps 34 arepermanently aflixed to the shoe 25 but are adjustably connected to theshoe 26 by means of bolts 35 which extend through elongated slots 36 inthe part 33 and in tie straps. The straps are formed with ears 34 (seeFig. 5) which are bored and adapted to receive adjusting screws 37 whichbear against the shoe 26 and which are therefore adapted to adjust theshoe to the desired position to fit the shuttle race.

Each of the shuttles is provided with a roll 38 at its rear end and witha roll 39.

at its forward end. The shuttles are driven individually by wheels 40 ofwhich there is one wheel for each shuttle, said wheels being affixedupon radial shafts 41 mounted in bearings 42, carried by arms or spokes43 which are all connected rigidly together and mounted to rotate uponthe central sleeve 12. A beveled gear 44 is affixed to the spokes 43 andmay be driven by a beveled gear 45 on a power shaft 46. In this way, thewheels 40, together with their shafts and bearings, are rotated bodilyabout the central sleeve 12 and the shafts 41 are otherwise rotatedabout their individual axes. For this purpose, the inner end of eachshaft 41 is provided with the beveled gear 47 and the hub 28 is providedwith a beveled gear 48 which is fixed and intermeshes with all of thegears 47. By this form of gearing, the wheels 40 are rotated in thedirection indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4 while they move about thesleeve 12 in the direction also indicated by an arrow in Figs. 2, 3 and4. Each of the wheels 40 engages the roll 38 of one shuttle and the roll39 of the next shuttle as shown by Fig. 4 and thereby drives the shuttlein advance and prevents the succeeding shuttle from racing ahead of itsdriving wheel 40. The wheels 40 in addition to driving the shuttles areemployed for opening and changing the shed of the warp. For thispurpose, each wheel 40 is provided with a plurality of cars 50, saidears being formed with indentations 51 adapted to receive the warpthreads 15. The number of warp threads, as well as the number ofshuttles and the number of ears 50, may be varied according to therequirements of the desired fabric and it is therefore unnecessary todefine their particular number in this case. The cars 50 are so arrangedas to engage alternate warp threads and to thereby displace thosewvarpthreads from their normal position.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 it will be seen that the nose of the shuttleis approximately in the vertical plane of the front face of the ring 21and that the slots 24: extend comparatively deep in the ring. The normalposition of the warp threads is at the base of the slots, or in otherwords, at the rear of the nose of the shuttle. As the wheels tO movearound the race, the alternate warp threads engaged by the ears 50, aremoved into a vertical plane at the front of the vertical plane of thenose of the shuttle and the shed of the warp is thereby opened. The shedis further opened by the frame 32 of the shuttle as the nose of theshuttle advances between the separated warp threads. By reference toFigs. 3, at and 5 it will be observed that the frame 32 is in thevertical plane of the shuttle race and that a shuttle bobbin 52 issupported by the shuttle in the vertical plane of the race and betweenthe front and rear bars of the frame 32.

The means here shown for supporting the bobbin 52 comprises a spindle 53adapted to be passed through the cop of the bobbin. The spindle may beprovided with a head 54 at one end and may be pointed at the other endas shown by Fig. 3. The shuttle frame 32 is formed with cross bars 55which are adapted to receive the spindle 54: and between which thebobbin 52 is arranged.

Fig. 9 shows a spring device adapted to lock the spindle 54C in theshuttle. Said device comprises a pair of spring arms 56 formed by amember which is afiixed by a screw 57 to the rear end of the frame 32.The spring arms are formed with crooks 58 which are adapted to snap intoa groove 59, formed in the spindle 53 near the pointed end thereof. Thespring arms are therefore adapted to prevent longitudinal movement anddisplacement of the spindle but they may be readily separated to permitremoval of the spindle. By reason of supporting the shuttle bobbin inthe manner described, the bobbin is carried about the shuttle race inthe plane of the normal position of the warp and the displacement of thewarp necessary to form the shed is thereby reduced to a minimum.

The shuttle is provided with a tension device including a plate 60, aspindle 61 and a helical spring 62. (See Figs. 3 and 5). The spindle (51is affixed in ears 63 on the shuttle and the plate is adapted to turnupon the spindle and to engage the bobbin as shown by Fig. 5. The spring62 is coiled about the spindle and one end is inserted through thespindle and the other end is engaged with the plate and tends to pressthe plate against the bobbin. The thread 52 from the bobbin 52 is passedthrough an eye 64 affixed upon the part 33 of the shuttle and is thenpassed through a groove 35 in the screw 35 and then over a series ofpins 65 projecting from the part 33 whereby ad- 'cated as a whole at 76.

ditional tension is imposed upon the thread.

From the series of tension pins, the thread passes through an eye 66formed in the outer end of a spring plunger 67 and then passes through athroat 68 at the inner end of the shuttle part 33 and thence to theforming ring 13.

The plunger 67, as shown by the 1551s,,

is mounted to slide in a holder 69 and has a head 7 O at its inner end.A. helical spring 71 coiled about the shank of the plunger between thehead and the closed end of the holder exerts its tension tending toforce the plunger toward the ring 30. The tension of the thread 52,however, is sufiicient to hold the plunger forward against the tensionof the spring 71. A thin flexible metal strip 72 is affixed by one endto the inner surface of the shuttle portion 33 and its free end liesbetween the head 70 and the ring 30 and normally is separated from boththe plunger and the ring. If the thread 52 breaks or is entirely used,the spring plunger is thereby released and is moved toward the ring 30thereby pressing the free end of the plate 72 against the ring. Thisdevice is employed as hereinafter explained for closing an electricalcircuit by which the operation of they machine may be stopped. The ring30 is attached to the ring 30 but is-electrically insulated therefrom byinsulating material indicated at 73 in Fig. 5. The ring 30, like thering 24, is provided with grooves for the reception of the warp threads15, and the spring plate 73 is therefore adapted to engage the frontface of the ring 30 without engaging the warp threads.

The power transmitting mechanism, for which the electrical controllingdevice is provided, is shown by Figs. 1, 7 and 8. Referring first toFig. 1, it will.be seen that the power shaft 16 supports a drivingpulley 75. The driving pulley is loosely mounted upon the shaft and isequipped with a clutch of any desired form and construction and indi- Asleeve 77-loosely mounted on the driving shaft and adapted to slidelongitudinally thereof is provided for the purpose of setting andreleasing the clutch in the well-known manner and is engaged by studs 78aflixed in a yoke or shipper 79. The shipper is carried by a slide 80mounted in a guide and support 81. The slide is formed with rack teeth82 as shown by Fig. 8 and is engaged by a pinion 83 affixed upon a shaft84. The shaft is journaled in a bracket 85 and its lower end is providedwith a crank or handle 86 by which it may be turned to move the shipperand consequently the sleeve 77 toward and from the clutch pulley. Aspring 87 coiled about the shaft 84 and attached to the bracket 85 andto a collar 88 affixed upon the shaft exerts its tension to normallymovethe slide in the direction indicated by an arrow in Fig. 8. Theslide when'moved in this direction retracts the sleeve 77 from theclutch thereby releasing the clutch so that the pulley may rotateI'reely upon the shaft. Referring now to Fig. 7 it will be seen that theslide 80 is provided with a pivoted latch 89 which is adapted to engagea complemental latch 90 mounted upon the stationary pin 91. When theslide is moved to set the clutch in driving position, the latch 89engages the latch 90 as shown by Fig. 7 and the clutch is therebymaintained in driving relation. The latch 90 is normally held in theposit-ion shown by a spring 92, and a back stop 93 is provided forlimiting movement in one direction of the latch. The latch carries anelectromagnetic armature 94: which is arranged to cooperate with theelectro-magnet 95 by which the latch 90 may be retracted from the latch89 to release the latter. When the latch 89 is released, the slide 80 isretracted by its spring 87 to release the clutch.

Fig. 7 includes a diagram of electric wiring by which the electro-magnetis connected with the plunger or detector 67 shown in Fig. 10. Accordingto this diagram, 96 represents a source of current and 97 represents aconductor connecting the source of current and the magnet 95. Aconductor 98 connecting the other side of the magnet and the detector 67may be grounded on the frame of the machine at any desired point. Aconductor 99 connecting the source of current with the insulated ring 80may be carried through the central sleeve 12 of the machine and attachedto the ring as shown by Fig. 5. By reason of so connecting the detectorand the ring with the magnet 95, the power mechanism may be disconnectedwhenever the detector is released by its shuttle'thread 5 The fabric isdrawn through the central sleeve 12 by the feeding mechanism shown byFigs. land 6. Said mechanism is mounted in a frame 100 at the rear ofthe machine and comprises a series of rolls 101 affixed upon shafts 102journaled in the frame 100. Each of the rolls 101 is provided withtoothed disks 103 adapted to engage the tubular fabric 10A and thefabric may be passed over the rolls in the manner shown by Fig. 1. Therolls are provided with intermeshing gears 105 by which they are causedto revolve in unison, and one of the shafts 102 is provided with abeveled gear 106 which is driven by a gear 107. The gear 107 is afliXedat one end of the shaft 108 mounted in bearings 109 on the frame. At theother end of the shaft is a worm gear 110 which intermeshes with a worm111 on a transverse shaft 112. The shaft 112 is also mounted in bearingsin the frame and is provided with a sprocket 113 connected to a sprocket114 by a chain 115. The sprocket 11 1 is aflixed on the shaft 46 andtherefore drives the feed rolls whenever the clutch 76 is oporativelyengaged. As shown by Fig. 1, the bearings for one of the shafts 102consist of sliding blocks 116, mounted to slide in slots 117 in theframe 100. Springs 118 are provided for forcing the blocks 116 towardthe adjacent roll for the purpose of causing the cooperative rolls toengage the fabric 104 with yielding tension.

It is to be understood that the feed mechanism forms no part of thepresent invention and may be varied at will. forms no part of thepresent invention and a detailed description thereof is omitted. Thefeatures to be regarded as essential to the present invention are theshuttle, the means of mounting the shuttle upon the shuttle race, themeans for mounting the shuttle bobbin by which the passage of theshuttle through the shed is facilitated and the herein describeddetector 67 and the adj acent parts for closing the electrical circuit.

An advantage of constructing the detector in the manner described isthat the contacting members by which the electrical circuit may beclosed are formed with relatively passes from the race to the shuttleand is therefore essential to provide sufficient bearing of the shuttleupon the race to insure passage of sufficient current to energize thecontrolling magnet. The shoes formed as illustrated on the drawings areadapted to have enough bearing upon the race toinsure the passage of thecurrent for this purpose.

Having thus explained the nature of my said invention, and described away of constructing and using the same, although without attempt-ing toset forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modesof its use, I declare that what 1 claim is 1. In a machine for weavingtubular fabric, a circular shuttle race, complemental shoes arranged toslide on said race, a shuttle supported by said shoes, said shuttlebeing arranged outside the periphery of the race, means on said shuttlefor supporting a bobbin so that its axis will be in a plane transverseto the axis of the race and inter secting the race, and means fordriving the shuttle. I

2. In a machine for weaving'tub-ular fabric, a shuttle race havingopposed faces, sliding shoes arranged onsaid faces, adjustable meansconnecting the shoes whereby The clutch 76' said shoes may be adjustedto fit the race, and a shuttle attached to and supported by said shoes.

3. In a machine for weaving tubular fabric, a race, a shuttle movablethereon, a driver, a member movable in advance of the driver, means onthe shuttle adapted to be engaged and driven by the driver, and means onthe shuttle adapted to abut against the member in advance.

4. In a machine for weaving tubular fabric, an endless-shuttle race, aplurality of shed-forming members movable about the race, a plurality ofshuttles movable on said race, means on the shuttles adapted to beengaged respectively by the shed-forming members for driving theshuttles, and means on the shuttles adapted to abut against therespective shed-forming members next in advance.

5. In a machine for weaving tubular fabric, an endless shuttle race, aplurality of shed-forming wheels movable about the race, a plurality ofshuttles movable on the race, driving rolls mounted on the shuttles tobe engaged respectively by said wheels, and rolls on said shuttlesadapted to respectively engage the wheels in advance of the respectivedriving wheels.

6. In a machine for weaving tubular fabric, a shuttle race, a shuttlemovable thereon, shuttle driving means, a continuously driven member fordriving said means, means for locking said means in driving relation, anelectromagnet for releasing said locking means, an insulated member, aflexible member carried by said shuttle and having a relatively broadface adapted to engage said insulated member, said flexible membernormally standing away from said insulated member, a yieldingthread-engag ing member carried by said shuttle and adapted whenreleased to press said flexible member against said insulated member,and conductors connecting in series said shuttle race, said magnet, asource of current, and said insulated member.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature, in presence of twoWitnesses.

CARL O. BERG.

Vitnesses W. P. ABELL, P. W. PEZZETTI.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

